Toy construction element



Dec. 4, 1951 J. DE SWART 2,577,702

TOY CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT Filed June 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Janaefiwarz,

Dec.4, 1951 J.DEISWART 2,571,702

TOY CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT Filed June 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z I l j I; /4

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Dec. 4, 1951 J. DE SWART 2,577,702

TOY CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT Filed June 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 54 65 54 4, W?" WW 49 54 Q) .lllllllllllllllp M 5) V 7 V V .7 JFQJZ 47 [52/ 6 65 Lfi a WW 66 mm z===-!!Jl lh---F l\ mu 70 70 i1?- ZO I a9 57 56 Jan QZVQVFENTORZL war I Patented Dec. 4, 1951 TOY CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT Jan de Swart, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 3, 1947, Serial No. 752,104

This invention is concerned with improvements intoy constructions of the type in which an assortment of interfitting elements of varying kinds areadapted to be manually assembled, without the use of bolts or similar fastening elements, into structures and mechanisms of widely varying sizes and types.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved toy construction of the type described which is particularly adapted to be manufactured of plastic materials, which comprises a small number of basic elements, which can be readily furnished to the user with as many duplicate parts as desired and which is so constructed that the user can combine the parts to construct an enormous number of rigid and movable structures..-:

It is another object of the inventionto provide a toy construction of the type described which comprises five basic elements or parts, all of whichare readily formed in an economical manner. by molding or extruding plastic materials, .which parts may be duplicated as desired, which may be furnished in various sizes and colors, and at least one of which maybe divide into a large number of sub-elements.

A further'object of the invention is to provide in a toy construction of the type described a wheel member and a cooperating strip member having an axle for receiving the wheel, member. whereby the wheel member may be mounted for rotation on the axle andwherein means is provided on the axle andthe wheel for releasably retaining the wheel member in rotatable relation thereon. g 1 I A still further object of theinvention is to provide, in a toy construction of the type described, a member having an apertured strip portion and 5 Claims. (CI. 46-17) provided with socket forming an axle forming laterally projecting end formations, and which is adapted to be sub-divided to provide a number of sub-elements for cooperation with other toy elementsin providing a versatile set of toy construction elements capable of assembly into many difierent real and simulated devices.

These and other objects of the invention will be .apparent from a description of the preferred embodiments thereof which are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

.Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wheeled toy constructed with a plurality of toy elements which embodythe principles of the invention;

.2is an elevation of a'strip member, formelements'vvhich constitute the invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the strip member;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a wheel member forming one of the basicelements of the toy;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a rod forming another of the basic elements of the toy;

' Fig. 7 is a section on the line l--'! of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a partial plan view of a plate member forming another basic element of the toy;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a split tube member forming still another basic element of the toy;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line l0l0 of Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and 12 are an elevation and plan view,- respectively, of a sub-element formed by modifying the strip member shown'in Figs. 2 and 3;

Figs. 13 and 14 are an elevation and plan view, respectively, of a socket and axle member which corresponds to the end formation of the strip member shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Figs. 15 and 16 are an elevation and plan view, respectively, of a sub-element corresponding to a portion of the end formation and a portion of the strip member shown in Figs. 11 and 12;

Figs. 17 and 18 are an elevation and plan view, respectively, of a flat strip member which corresponds to the central portion of the strip member shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Figs. 19 and 20 are an end elevation and plan view, respectively, of a socket and pin member which corresponds to a portion of the end for- -mation on the strip member shown in Figs. 2

and 3; Figs. 21 and 22 are an elevation and plan View,

respectively, of a sub-element corresponding to a portion of the end formation of the strip member shown in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively, of a sub-element corresponding to a.

portion of the end formation of the strip member shown in Figs. 2 and 3. e

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated an assemblage of toy construction elements which simulates a wheeled vehicle provided With hoisting mechanism. The assemblageis typical of a number of arrangements which it is possible to construct with a plurality of the basic elements and sub- The number of assemblies and the types of construche. S n

In Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a strip member ID which constitutes one of the basic elements of the invention. The member consists of a relatively fiat narrow strip portion H provided with spaced apertures l2 and end formations E3. The strip portion ll may be made solid, or provided with recesses. effecting a saving of material, or with reinforcing ribs, providing increased strength. The end formations 13 include a tubular portion l4 projecting upwardly from the top face of the strip portion H. The tubular portion 14 is provided with a socket forming bore [1 which is preferably the same diameter as the apertures 12' in the strip portion ii. Projecting from the opposite face of the strip portion II is a relatively short pin l8 which is of a cross-sectional. diameter which permits it to be loosely positioned in the socket H or in an aperture 12. The pin l8 and the socket H are adapted to cooperate to permit a plurality of the strip members Hi to be positioned. in connected relation with the. members either superimposed on each other or extended at any desired angle relative to each other. Each end formation [3 is: also. provided with relatively short laterally extending pin members. [9- which are duplicates of each other but extend in opposite directions edgewise of the strip member iii in substantially the. sameplane as the. strip portion ll. Each pin member t9 is. slotted on the. end at 2E2. and. provided with a circumferential shoulder 21 near the free end thereof. The pin members iii. are of a crosssecti'onal diameter slightly lessthan the diameter of the apertures l2 in the strip portion ll and the shoulder M is of slightly greater diameter. The end of the pins IS may be-resiliently compressed by means of the slot to permit the shoulder 2| to pass through an aperture l2.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a wheel 22 is illustrated which constitutes another basic element. The wheel 22- is designed to cooperate with the pin mem her as of'the strip member l8 and is provided with a central aperture or bore 2-3 which is ofs'lightly larger diameter than the cross-sectiona'l diameter of the pin member 59 but which is of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the shoulder 25 on the pin it so that the wheel may be forced over the shoulder 2| and into rotatable relation with the pin. The pin it forms an axle for the wheel 22 while the shoulder '21 prevents removal of the wheel 22 except by the application of sufficient force axially of the pin it to constrict tliesplit ends. of thepin lfi'and'. permit'the wheel to be forced outwardly over thev shoulder 2 I. The wheel 22 is prcvided'with projecting hub or shoulder portions 2'6 and 25 which extend outwardly somewhat of the face of the Wheel on" each side. The wheel 22 is preferably provided with an annular recess 2'5 which effects a saving of material without any appreciable reduction in strength. Circurnierentially spaced apertures 27 are also provided around the outer edge of the Another basic element of the toy is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. This element comprises. a solid rod member 238 having a cross-sectional diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the The conholes l2, I1 and 23 in the elements In and 22. The rod 28 may be furnished in any desired length or in a number of diilerent lengths for use in the toy.

A fiat plate-like member 29 is illustrated in Fig. 3 which constitutes the fourth basic element of the toy. The plate 29 may be any desired size. or it may be provided in any: number of different sizes: In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the plate 29 is approximately square and is used to form the base of the vehicle. Plate members may be provided having other shapes. In the illustrated form plate 23 is provided with a series of spaced holes 3% adjacent the outer edges. The corner holes at are preferably spaced from each other a distance corresponding to the space between the. pins 18 on the strip member ID. The holes 30 are of a diameter sufficient to loosely receive the pins l8. Any other arrangement of the holes 3i! for construction of special assemblages may, of: course, be provided.

The fifth basic element of the toy is illustrated; in Figs. 9 and 10 and comprises. a. tubular: memher 3 IV having a longitudinal slot. 32. The tubular; member 3i is preferably formed with an outside diameter slightly larger than the diameter. of the holes i2 and ll of the strip member: I0..The. slot. fizpermitsthe. tubular member 3.! to be resiliently constricted so that it maybe insertedin. tr e holes i? or it and'adiustably held therein; This. permits thecssemblage; ofv the elements: R1,. 22 and 29 in. various rigid andadiiustabl-erelae tionships.

The elements provided by the. basicumembersr namely, the strip member ill. the wheel 22, the. solid; rod 3.8-, the plate. 29 and theislotted, tube (it. may be supplemented by sub-elements which may be readily formed to correspond to portions of the basic element H1. Such sub-elements are illustrated in Figs. 11 to 26.

In Figs. 11-; and- 12 thesub-element 33: consists: of a strip, portion. 34; which. corresponds to. the. strip portion: ll of the element. Hi and endfor-- mations v3 5 which are provided with a laterally extending. tubular member 36 having a socket 31. and an oppositely extending pin member 38.. The. end formations 3.5 correspond. to. the members l4. and 18 of the element. 10.. forming portion 34 is provided-with. spaced aperltures: 39 of" the same. size as holes l'2 in member [0.

The sub-element 40 which' is illustrated in Figs. 13' and 14 corresponds to the endformatlonl3 of basic member lfl'. Element 40 consists of a tubular portion 4! having socket 42, a pin- 41 ex tending in the opposite direction and laterally extending axle forming members 44. The axle forming members 44- are slotted at 45 and provided' with an annular shoulder 46 adjacent the free end;

Thesub-element 41 which is illustrated; in Figs.

15 and I6 corresponds toa portion of the end ofthe basic member l-ll. Element 41 comprises a tubular portion 48 havinga socket 49-; a pin" 50 extending in the opposite direction and a' later- The.

ally extending relatively short strip 5f. strip 5| is provided with an: apglture: 5'2 prefer ably of the same diameter as aperture I 2fin' eleci- The. strip:

Element 5 3 comprises aflat" chore preferably of the same diameter as apertures i2ofthes'tripmember t0. "Other" subelements of this type may be provided of difierent lengths and with a different number of holes to further increase the variety of parts constituting the toy.

A further sub-element 55 which is illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20 corresponds to a portion of the end of basic element iii. The sub-element 55 comprises a tubular member 56 having a socket 57 and a pin 58 extending in the opposite direction} Another sub-element 59 which is illustratedin Figs. 21 and 22 corresponds to a portion of the end of basic element I0. This sub-element comprises a tubular center portion 60 having a bore 61 and oppositely extending axle forming pins 62. Each of the pins 62 is slotted at 63 on its end and is provided with a shoulder 64 adjacent the end. The pins '62 form axles for wheel member 22.;

Another sub-element 95 which is illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24 corresponds to a portion of the end of base element ID. This sub-element comprises'a tubular portion 66 having central bore 61 and a laterally extending axle forming pin 68 having a slotted end at 69 and a wheel retaining shoulder'70. This sub-element forms a universal joint connection for use with the wheel member 22. 3'

A final sub-element II which is illustrated in Figs. and 26 also corresponds to a portion of the end-of basic element 10. This sub-element forms in effect a washer or spacer memberhaving a central bore 12 which may be the same cross-sectional diameter as the bore I! in basic element It].

Whilethe elements illustrated are sufficient to provide all the parts needed to adapt the toy for construction of an enormous number of real and simulated articles or devices, it will be understood that other elements may be used with the illustrated elements to further increase the usefulness of the toy.

I claim: I

1. A toy construction element comprising. a relatively flat elongate bar having integral end formations, said bar being provided with spaced bores between said end formations, each of said end formations comprising a laterally extending open-ended tubular portion provided with an axial bore, a short pin extending in a direction opposite to the tubular portion and laterally directed opposed axle forming pin members, each of said pin members having a slotted end and provided with a wheel retaining peripheral shoulder spaced inwardly of said end.

2, A toy construction element comprising an intermediate fiat bar having integral end formations, said bar being provided with a plurality of spaced bores intermediate its ends and each 01' said end formations being provided with an integral tubular portion having a socket forming axial bore of the same size as the bores in said bar.

3. A toy construction element comprising a relatively narrow flat 1 bar portion and an integral end formation, said end formation comprising a socket forming tubular portion extending laterally from one flat face of said bar portion and a relatively short pin member extending laterally from the opposite flat face of said bar portion.

4. A toy construction element comprising an elongate relatively flat bar portion and an in- 'tegral end formation, said bar portion having spaced bores, said end formation comprising a tubular portion provided with an axial bore, a short pin extending in the opposite direction to the tubular portion and a laterally directed axle forming member, said axle member being slotted at the end thereof and having a wheel retaining shoulder adjacent the end thereof, said tubular portion, pin and axle members extending radially of the longitudinal axis of said bar portion.

5. A one-piece toy construction element comprising a relatively narrow flat bar portion and an integral end formation, said end formation comprising a socket forming tubular portion extending from one fiat face of said bar portion, a relatively short pin member extending from the opposite flat face of said bar portion, and a laterally extending axle forming member having a split end and a wheel retaining annular shoulder.

JAN 1m SWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

